Top N.Y.-bred Dancin' Renee Dies at Old Friends

Dancin' Renee, a graded stakes winner and 1997 New York Horse of the Year, has died.

The 22-year-old Thoroughbred mare lost a long battle with laminitis and was euthanized Jan. 11 at Old Friends, a Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., where she was pensioned.

"It's been a tough month," said Old Friends president Michael Blowen in a release. "We lost Patton and Sunshine Forever in the last week, and now Renee. I mourn the losses but thank all of their fans for their support. "

A homebred for owner Sanford Bacon, New York-bred Dancin' Renee, by Distinctive Pro, won seven straight races in 1997 including the Honorable Miss Stakes (gr. III) at Saratoga Race Course. Out of three-time New York Broodmare of the Year Lolli Lucka Lolli, Dancin' Renee won six other stakes races in her three seasons of racing.

For her efforts she was crowned 1997's New York Horse of the Year as well as the state's champion sprinter and champion older female by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders.

As a broodmare Dancin' Renee was represented by numerous winners, including Risky Rachel, who won the Minaret Stakes Jan. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs.

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